US Edition - Today's top story: A journalist coined 'the Bible Belt' 100 years ago – it's been oversimplifying the South ever since September 9, 2026 US Edition   Top headlines Parsing latest mail-in voting legal moves – and why they matter Typically protected, Hawaii sees very busy hurricane season Inaugural Women’s Professional Baseball League playoffs begin Lead story Just over a century ago, the words “Bible Belt” first appeared in print. And as historian John Hayes explains, the phrase has been oversimplifying the South ever since. As the midterm elections come near, for example, perhaps you’ll hear a pundit invoke the Bible Belt cliche to explain Southern politics, linking voters’ behavior at the polls to conservative Protestant beliefs. Even in 1924, though, that picture of Southern culture was far from complete. There were truths within it, like Baptist and Methodist churches’ strong sway over society. But it boiled the region’s diversity down into a single image, ignoring important factors like race and class. And if the image of the Bible Belt wasn’t really accurate 100 years ago, that’s all the more true today, in a rapidly changing South. It’s “the cliche that just won’t die,” Hayes writes – but it “could use some serious scrutiny.” Our best stories of the week on science and health, hand-selected by our editors.   Molly Jackson Religion and Ethics Editor   Even when the phrase was coined, the ‘Bible Belt’ image depicted just a portion of the region’s culture. John Hayes A journalist coined ‘the Bible Belt’ 100 years ago – it’s been oversimplifying the South ever since John Hayes, Augusta University ‘The Bible Belt’ has been used for a century to describe religion and politics in the South. But it captured just some of life in the region then – and doesn’t capture what’s going on today. 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Science + Technology People with Tourette syndrome, like Billie Eilish, use everything in their power to suppress tics – this exhausting process is key to treatment Michael Okun, University of Florida A person with Tourette syndrome who holds back their tics may look fine, but keeping these involuntary urges contained can be draining. American women in communities with ample broadband access lose less time waiting for services, reducing time poverty Mattia Caldarulo, Rochester Institute of Technology; Andrea Hetling, Rutgers University; Gregory Porumbescu, Rutgers University - Newark Making broadband affordable and training people how to best use it are also key to saving time. Space weather can cause both beautiful auroras and infrastructure challenges – 5 essential reads on protecting life and technology Mary Magnuson, The Conversation A massive solar flare could seriously disrupt life on Earth – but new NASA missions and others in development will help monitor the Sun. International The race for a new UN chief comes at a historically fraught time – the choice will be vital and significant, just don’t expect a savior Ian Johnstone, Tufts University The UN Security Council calls the shots when it comes to appointing the body’s chief – which means 5 permanent members have an outsized say on the matter. Germany: why the AfD won in Saxony-Anhalt – and what happens next Ed Turner, Aston University The AfD received by far the most amount of votes in Saxony-Anhalt, falling marginally short of an absolute majority. Trending on site Mosquitoes are picky eaters – we studied 3 common South Florida species to learn why they like some people more than others Taxpayers don’t want to pay for new NFL stadiums – so why did politicians approve billions in subsidies to fund six new ones? Farmer-poet Wendell Berry’s environmental ethics were deeply rooted in his Christian faith and belief in caring for creation Today's chart From the article: ‘Male’ and ‘female’ plugs and connectors – gendered language for the ends of garden hoses, electrical cords and pipe fittings sparks debate Read the article   About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. We can give away our articles thanks to the generosity of readers like you. Learn more about us Support our work More from The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our other emails: The Afternoon Story (A daily Substack)